by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Ballinger Bearcats

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Merkel on Wednesday, we stay in District 4-3A Division II with the Ballinger Bearcats. On Friday, we will take a look at the Anson Tigers, followed by the Cisco Loboes on Saturday. 

Start of fall football practice

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast Greatest Hits Part 2: Evan, Daniel revisit conversations with Reed, Eddleman, Bartley

With Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood taking a two-week break from the Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast to to focus on the 2019 Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, we take a look back at three more of our favorite interviews from the first six year of our weekly podcast.

In Part 2 of our two-part “Greatest Hits” series, we revisit our conversations with current Gordon football coach Mike Reed, Haskell girls basketball coach Blake Eddleman and Breckenridge baseball coach Kevin Bartley.

We hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane.

by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Merkel Badgers

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Bangs on Tuesday, we stay in District 4-3A Division II with the Merkel Badgers. On Thursday, we will take a look at the Ballinger Bearcats, followed by the Anson Tigers on Friday. 

Start of fall football practice

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by Daniel Youngblood

BREAKING: Geter tabbed to take over Cooper girls basketball program

Cooper athletic director Aaron Roan announced on Tuesday that former Hondo boys basketball coach Arsenio Geter has been hired to lead the Lady Cougar girls basketball program.

Geter, who replaces Lauren Ash, previously spent time at San Angelo Central, Brenham, Brownfield, Borger, McCamey and most recently Hondo, where he amassed a 45-28 record in two seasons as the head coach.

Continue reading “BREAKING: Geter tabbed to take over Cooper girls basketball program” →

by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Bangs Dragons

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Coleman on Monday, we stay in District 4-3A Division II with the Bangs Dragons. On Wednesday, we will take a look at the Merkel Badgers, followed by the Ballinger Bearcats on Thursday. 

Start of fall football practice

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Coleman Bluecats

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Colorado City on Sunday, we move to District 4-3A Division II with the Coleman Bluecats. On Tuesday, we will take a look at the Bangs Dragons, followed by the Merkel Badgers on Wednesday. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Colorado City Wolves

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Coahoma on Saturday, we stay in District 2-3A Division II with the Colorado City Wolves. On Monday, we will take a look at the Coleman Bluecats, followed by the Bangs Dragons on Tuesday. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Coahoma Bulldogs

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring San Saba on Friday, we move to District 2-3A Division II with the Coahoma Bulldogs. On Sunday, we will take a look at the Colorado City Wolves, followed by the Coleman Bluecats on Monday. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: San Saba Armadillos

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring De Leon on Thursday, we stay in District 7-2A Division I with the San Saba Armadillos. On Saturday, we will take a look at the Coahoma Bulldogs, followed by the Colorado City Wolves on Sunday. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: De Leon Bearcats

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Hico on Wednesday, we stay in District 7-2A Division I with the De Leon Bearcats. On Friday, we will take a look at the San Saba Armadillos, followed by the Coahoma Bulldogs on Saturday. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast Greatest Hits Part 1: Evan, Daniel revisit conversations with Sandford, Galyean, Schniers

With Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood taking a two-week break from the Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast to focus on the 2019 Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, we take a look back at three of our favorite interviews from the first year of our weekly podcast.

In Part 1 of our two-part “Greatest Hits” series, we revisit our conversations with Early head football coach and athletic director Blake Sandford, Eastland boys basketball coach Doug Galyean and Wall baseball coach Jason Schniers.

We hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane.

by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Hico Tigers

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Goldthwaite on Tuesday, we stay in District 7-2A Division I with the Hico Tigers. On Thursday, we will take a look at the De Leon Bearcats, followed by the San Saba Armadillos on Friday.  

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Goldthwaite Eagles

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Hawley on Monday, we move to District 7-2A Division I with the Goldthwaite Eagles. On Wednesday, we will take a look at the Hico Tigers, followed by the De Leon Bearcats on Thursday.

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Hawley Bearcats

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Stamford on Sunday, we stay in District 3-2A Division I with the Hawley Bearcats. On Tuesday, we will take a look at the Goldthwaite Eagles, followed by the Hico Tigers on Wednesday.  

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Stamford Bulldogs

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Winters on Saturday, we stay in District 3-2A Division I with the Stamford Bulldogs. On Monday, we will take a look at the Hawley Bearcats, followed by the Goldthwaite Eagles on Tuesday.  

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Winters Blizzards

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Forsan on Friday, we stay in District 3-2A Division I with the Winters Blizzards. On Sunday, we will take a look at the Stamford Bulldogs, followed by the Hawley Bearcats on Monday.  

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Forsan Buffaloes

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Albany on Thursday, we move to District 3-2A Division I with the Forsan Buffaloes. On Saturday, we will take a look at the Forsan Buffaloes, followed by the Winters Blizzards on Sunday.  

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Albany Lions

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Hamlin on Wednesday, we stay in District 7-2A Division II with the Albany Lions. On Friday, we will take a look at the Forsan Buffaloes, followed by the Winters Blizzards on Saturday.  

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 53: Evan, Daniel talk 7-on-7 football, Athlete of the Year selections

The 7-on-7 football season wrapped up last week with the state tournament in College Station, spawning a discussion on the sport and how seriously it’s taken between Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood.

Also on this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast, Evan and Daniel recap their selections for the 2018-19 Boys and Girls Athletes of the Year and our Super Dozen selections.

by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Hamlin Pied Pipers

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Haskell on Tuesday, we stay in District 7-2A Division II with the Hamlin Pied Pipers. On Thursday, we will take a look at the Albany Lions, followed by the Forsan Buffaloes on Friday.  

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Haskell Indians

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Cross Plains on Monday, we stay in District 7-2A Division II with the Haskell Indians. On Wednesday, we will take a look at the Hamlin Pied Pipers, followed by the Albany Lions on Thursday.  

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by Daniel Youngblood

BREAKING: Brock edges Wall for sixth Lone Star Cup

For the second year in a row and sixth time in school history, Brock has won the Lone Star Cup.

The UIL announced the six winners of its annual award for overall athletic department achievement on Monday, and the Eagles were joined by Southlake Carroll in Class 6A, Dallas Highland Park in 5A, Argyle in 4A, Mason in 2A and Nazareth in 1A.

Continue reading “BREAKING: Brock edges Wall for sixth Lone Star Cup” →

by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Cross Plains Buffaloes

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Roscoe on Sunday, we stay in District 7-2A Division II with the Cross Plains Buffaloes. On Tuesday, we will take a look at the Haskell Indians, followed by the Hamlin Pied Pipers on Wednesday.  

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by Evan Ren

BCP BOYS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AND SUPER DOZEN: Yeager claims top spot

On the heels of announcing our first-ever Big Country Preps Girls Athlete of the Year, it’s now time to announce our first boys winner.

Again, our Athlete of the Year and subsequent “Super Dozen” represent the Big Country Athletes who contributed the most to their athletic programs — most often over a broad range of disciplines. 

So, at this time, Big Country Preps proudly announces its Boys Athlete of the Year: Kevin Yeager of De Leon. 

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by Evan Ren

BCP GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AND SUPER DOZEN: Masonheimer takes top spot

An Athlete of the Year award for the Big Country has been a long time coming, and Big Country Preps is officially ending the wait. 

What better way to end our first school year than by honoring our top all-around athletes. By that, we mean those athletes who competed at a high level over a broad range of disciplines and had the biggest overall impact on their athletic programs (as nominated by area athletic directors). 

So without further ado, we proudly announce our first Big Country Preps Girls Athlete of the Year: Anna Masonheimer of Eula. 

From start to finish, Masonheimer was a key contributor to Eula’s athletic success during the 2018-19 school year, beginning with her helping the EHS cross country team reach the regional meet. 

She was the MVP of Eula’s district champion basketball team, earning all state honors from both the Texas Association of Basketball coaches and the Texas Girls Coaches Association. But she was just getting started at that point. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Roscoe Plowboys

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Munday on Saturday, we stay in Class 2A Division II with the Roscoe Plowboys. On Monday, we will take a look at the Cross Plains Buffaloes, followed by the Haskell Indians on Tuesday.

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Munday Moguls

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Starting today and running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

We start in Class 2A with the Munday Moguls. Sunday we will take a quick look at the Roscoe Plowboys, followed by the Cross Plains Buffaloes on Monday.

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by Daniel Youngblood

STATE 7-ON-7: Jim Ned’s run to semifinals headlines area effort

COLLEGE STATION — The Jim Ned football team rebounded from a 1-2 run through pool action Friday to reach the Division 2 semifinals at the Texas State 7-on-7 Championships on Saturday at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex.

The Indians, the Big Country’s only team in Division II or III to win a bracket play game, defeated Stafford (28-19), Graham (39-27) and Dumas (47-41), before seeing their run end with a 13-12 loss to eventual champion Sunnyvale in the semis.

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by Evan Ren

STATE 7-ON-7: Dublin, Brady win their pools on Day 1 in College Station

Shay Easterwood

COLLEGE STATION — With 64 teams hitting the field on Day 1 of the Texas State 7-on-7 Championships, the picture became a bit clearer by day’s end, though not a single team was eliminated. 

All 32 teams in both the Division II and Division III tournaments were guaranteed a spot in the championship round, with Thursday’s pool play serving as a means to seed the entirety of both events at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex.

Big Country representatives Dublin and Brady had the biggest days among area teams, both of which won their pools to earn a No. 1 seed on Friday. 

The Division I competition (Classes 5A and 6A)  will get underway on Friday without a single Big Country team in the field. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 52: Evan, Daniel take look at ‘Texas Football’ projections

The arrival of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine means the high school football season is just around in the corner.

In this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast, Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood break down Texas Football’s projections for Big Country area schools, looking at team rankings, key district races and some local and area individuals honored by the publication. 

by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Ground-based Brock Eagles find plenty to be gained in 7-on-7 state run

Lining up in the shotgun with four or five receivers out wide has never really been the Brock Eagles’ thing.

Coach Chad Worrell has long preferred a more straight-ahead, smash-mouth style to the “basketball on grass” of the spread era — a philosophical decision that, to this point, has paid off handsomely for his young, but thriving program.

So it would be natural to question the value the 7-on-7 game, which relies exclusively on spread-based passing attacks, might have for a Brock team that can count its pass attempts on two hands most fall Friday nights.

Ask the Brock players, though, and you’ll find that the 7-on-7 season holds immense value. It just might not come in the areas one first suspects.

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Lipsey still sees value in 7-on-7 as his Bearcats head to state

With the State 7-on-7 Tournament rapidly approaching, the game does have its share of detractors who insist the hyped-up version of “touch” football  can teach players bad habits. 

Some head football coaches don’t even attend the games, and college coaches aren’t allowed to.

So, while some may be tempted to ask the question if 7-on-7 is actually worth the investment, others insist that it is. 

Count Ballinger head football coach Chuck Lipsey among the latter. 

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Preps Baseball-Softball All-Hustle Team: Our hardest-working players!

OTHER 2019 ALL-BIG COUNTRY PREPS TEAMS

Our All-Big Country Preps Softball and Baseball Teams, released Friday and Saturday, respectively, are in place to honor those who achieved the most on-field success in 2019. It is off the field, however, where character, grit, and work ethic are often measured. And it is with our Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team that we wish to honor those players, male and female, who were (simply put) the hardest-working, best teammates in the area this spring. 

This team isn’t about who the best baseball and softball players were.

The All-Hustle team honors effort, discipline, toughness, coachability and selflessness — traits that coaches wish they had in every player and upon which championships are built.

It is for that reason that this team is largely selected by area coaches and described in their own words.

Big Country Preps is now honored to present these individuals to you — the best team players (boys and girls) that the the Big Country had to offer during the 2019 season.

The players below are listed in no particular order. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

All-Big Country Preps Baseball Team: First-Team Roster

Here are our first-team selections for the inaugural All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

All-Big Country Preps Baseball Team: Second-Team Roster (w/ honorable mention)

Here are our second-team selections for the inaugural All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2018-19 IN REVIEW: Baseball (w/ two photo galleries)

Prior to the release of our All-Big Country Preps softball and baseball teams on Friday and Saturday, Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood will review the 2018-19 school year throughout this week and the top athletic stories produced by the area in football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball.

The 2019 baseball season was a wildly successful one for schools in the Big Country Preps coverage area. Wall won its first state championship in program history, Albany got back to the Class 2A state tournament for the second time in three years and a number of other programs made deep playoff runs and/or took big steps forward.

Now, it’s time to take a look back at the season we just completed and celebrate the teams and games that made 2019 unforgettable.

Without further ado, let’s dive in and hit the highlights.

Continue reading “2018-19 IN REVIEW: Baseball (w/ two photo galleries)” →

by Evan Ren

2018-19 IN REVIEW: Softball (w/ two photo galleries)

Prior to the release of our All-Big Country Preps softball and baseball teams on Friday and Saturday, Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood will review the 2018-19 school year throughout this week and the top athletic stories produced by the area in football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball.

I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for fastpitch softball — I admit it. 

A long time ago, it was common for men to play the game. My dad played it. I played it. So I still thoroughly enjoy getting to as many girls softball games as possible — just to see some fastpitch again.

So, it is with pleasure that I review the the 2019 season — the top teams, the top games, the top surprises and the clubs that are about to make a splash in 2020.

 That said, it’s time to dive in.

Continue reading “2018-19 IN REVIEW: Softball (w/ two photo galleries)” →

by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 51: Evan, Daniel discuss Baird’s move to six-man, look back at 2018-19 athletic year

With Baird’s decision this week to join the six-man football ranks, which follows a trend set in recent years by fellow Big Country Class 1A schools Rotan, Gorman, Bronte and Roby, the Bears will be entering a whole new world this fall.

On this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast, Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood explore that transition from all angles. 

Also in this week’s episode, Evan and Daniel take a look back at the 2018-19 athletic year and discuss some of their highlights from the football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball seasons.

by Daniel Youngblood

2018-19 IN REVIEW: Boys basketball (w/ two photo galleries)

Prior to the release of our All-Big Country Preps softball and baseball teams on Friday and Saturday, Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood will review the 2018-19 school year throughout this week and the top athletic stories produced by the area in football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball.

Any season that ends with two teams in the state tournament is a successful one, so the Big Country’s 2018-19 boys basketball campaign would certainly qualify.

With Brock advancing to the Alamodome in Class 3A and Jayton doing so in 1A, area teams kept us captivated until the final day of the high school season. And even those whose runs ended short of that ultimate goal gave us some great storylines to follow.

Today, we look back on the highlights of the most recent boys basketball season and remember the teams and games that helped make it such a special one.

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by Evan Ren

2018-19 IN REVIEW: Girls basketball (w/ two photo galleries)

Prior to the release of our All-Big Country Preps softball and baseball teams on Friday and Saturday, Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood will review the 2018-19 school year throughout this week and the top athletic stories produced by the area in football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball.

Our review of the 2018-19 athletic school year continues today with girls basketball, which, while it didn’t produce a state title for the Big Country, was never boring. 

It is a long-standing Big Country hoops tradition to be very strong in both Class 1A and Class 3A girls basketball, and last season was no exception. 

The area sent two representatives (Wall and Hermleigh) to the state tournament in San Antonio, continuing the area’s stronghold in both classes.

That said, let’s not waste time. Let’s dive in and take a look at the season’s highlights, shall we?

Continue reading “2018-19 IN REVIEW: Girls basketball (w/ two photo galleries)” →

by Evan Ren

2018-19 IN REVIEW: Football (w/ two photo galleries)

Prior to the release of our All-Big Country Preps softball and baseball teams on Friday and Saturday, Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood will review the 2018-19 school year throughout this week and the top athletic stories produced by the area in football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball.

Before we dive into last football season, let me begin with a quick thank you. With a full year now in the books, BigCountryPreps.com enjoyed a successful first campaign, and that is entirely due to you — the Big Country sports fan. 

We are already chomping at the bit to begin our second year in business and we’ll be preparing our 2019 Football Preview throughout much of the summer, with a release date set for mid-August.

Which brings us to the subject at hand. 

Midway through the 2018 football campaign, Daniel Youngblood and myself were already concurring that it was one of the strangest seasons we had ever experienced. And by December, I felt compelled to write about that very fact. 

Here’s a quick sample: At various points, 2018 produced a 7-0 Dublin team, a 13-0 San Saba team and 1-9 clubs from Sweetwater and Goldthwaite. How’s that for a reversal of recent history?

Continue reading “2018-19 IN REVIEW: Football (w/ two photo galleries)” →

by Evan Ren

PHOTO GALLERY: 7-on-7 Division III state qualifying tournament (93 images)

Photos may be purchased for $7 each by clicking on the small shopping cart emblem below the lower right corner of the gallery. Our company watermark “BigCountryPreps.com” will be removed from all purchased photos.

RELATED STORIES/GALLERIES

GROUND-ORIENTED WINTERS NEARLY PASSES ITS WAY TO STATE TOURNEY

JIM NED QUALIFIES FOR STATE ON ITS HOME FIELD 

PHOTO GALLERY: DIVISION II STATE QUALIFIER AT JIM NED

 

by Evan Ren

7-ON-7 FOOTBALL: Ground-oriented, option-loving Winters nearly passes way to state tourney

On a typical Friday evening in the fall, the Winters football team may throw the ball five times — 10 if desperate measures are required.

The flexbone-based Blizzards under coach Matt McCarty have made their living on the ground, reaching the playoffs for two straight years via the triple option. 

Nonetheless, McCarty saw fit to include his team in the annual statewide 7-on-7 competition, a pass-only “touch” football game meant to hone high school passing games to a fine edge over the summer. 

It subsequently stunned nearly everyone in attendance Friday at McMurry University, coming within a victory of passing its way to the Division III state tournament in College Station. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

7-ON-7 FOOTBALL: Jim Ned claims state berth on home field

The Jim Ned 7-on-7 State Qualifying Tournament was a good one for the home team Friday as the Indians rallied for a 33-13 win over Llano in the event’s semifinals to earn their second straight trip to the Division II state tournament.

Jim Ned, the only Big Country team to advance past pool play, trailed Llano 13-6 late in the first half but scored a touchdown and conversion on the final play before halftime to send the teams to the break tied at 13. The Indians then outscored the Yellowjackets 20-0 over the final 20 minutes to punch their ticket to College Station on June 27 and 28.

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